abandoned places in decatur, alabama abandoned places in decatur, alabama

No matter what part of the state you are in, if you ask around youre sure to be pointed to a haunted site. 15. Nearby, a pair of eyeglasses gathers dust, as if the owner were suddenly interrupted in the middle of a workday and never returned. . It is now a concert venue. (Picture: Old schoolhouse). The press room in Dallas Compress Co. in Selma. the interior, seen here from the doorway, is closed to the public because it is unsafe. The furnace was destroyed by the Union army during the Civil War but was rebuilt around 1879. The abandoned Hall Hotel building is among the loveliest - if spooky - structures in the Madison County town of Gurley. In the 1850s, the settlement had disappeared and was replaced by adjoining plantations. Legend says the apparition of a woman named Nancy, for whom Nancys Mountain is named, haunts a path to the river on Haines Island, shown above. It is now the site of a Hampton Inn. During the Civil War, her husband and oldest son were reportedly murdered by members of the Home Guard because the son refused to join the army. It is now a concert venue. Click here to read more. InsideEastern Bank of Alabama in Eufaula. Legend says those who face the front of the house will feel a tap on their shoulders and see a dark figure running across the roof. Molly was bittem by her puppy, which had contracted rabies. Arcola, established in the early 1820s, is a ghost town on the Black Warrior River in Hale County, Alabama - formerly Marengo County. The Chamber of Commerce building, above right, was constructed in 1910 as a bank. For 50 years, the woman brought flowers and kneeled to pray at the foot of his 8-foot obelisk marker. However, in the 2010s, no one was managing the site and vandals began tearing up the facility. Apparitions seen floating through the hotel are thought to be those of people who checked in but never checked out. Childrens laughter has been heard by those working on the third floor, and even outside the bathroom down in the restaurant when there have been no children around. People claim to hear knocking on the floors and walls. Listed below are eight creepy Alabama ghost towns worth a visit. Groups such as Main Street Birmingham, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation have attempted to find a use for it and funding to refurbish it. Reportedly haunted by the ghost of a woman who hanged herself back in the day when the Center was a teaching college. The bridge was built in 1861 as an access route for Confederate forces to Mississippi. Western Railway of Alabama building in Montgomery as it looks today. It is said to be haunted by slaves who died on the grounds and also by former owners. Red Lady of Huntingdon College, Montgomery, Pratt Hall, a dorm at Huntingdon College, is haunted by a spirit known as the Red Lady because she is always dressed in red. Cemeteries near Decatur, AL HauntedPlaces.org makes no claims that any of the statements posted here are factually accurate. Home Value*. The abandoned Peerless Laundry building at Royal and Conti streets in Mobile. Located in a beautiful 1820s home, the restaurant is known for its family of ghosts including a woman screaming and calling out as she floats past the windows and the ghostly reflection of a tall, bearded man in black, known as Old Ebeneezer Hearn. People claim if they get out of their cars, they hear and feel a presence beside them. Others claim to have seen phantom cars, strange balls of light and the apparition of a small figure, about 4 feet tall. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. On the third floor, people report doors opening and closing and furniture moving of its own accord. What is now a non-denominational chapel was built in 1850 as a Presbyterian church. Owners Bobby and Lynn Bright are refurbishing the film set of Spectre because public interest remains high. Some have been completely abandoned, making them TRUE ghost towns. This was the exact same year Alabama was admitted to the Union as a state. Others claim to have witnessed the spirit of a mysterious mist, a crying baby and a strange man dressed in black. [email protected] (866) 944-8530 . It is now home to the Lowndesboro Town Hall. At her death, her family searched the mansion for the candles but were unable to find them. The bank was founded in the 1850s. This historic fort is one of the best-preserved Civil War era masonry forts in the U.S. Fort Gaines has become a tourist attraction and on the property you'll find original cannons, a blacksmith shop, kitchens, a museum, gift shop and a few tunnels. TheMcNab Bank Buildingin Eufaula, formerly Eastern Bank of Alabama. Click hereto see more photos. If you want to suggest another tale, email [email protected] or comment below. Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, USA. Local lore says that this 1857 mansion built by cotton broker Foster Kirksey is haunted by the spirit of a woman who died on the property. Construction on Kendall Manor began before the Civil War but it could not be completed until 1867. One of the most important factors to keep in mind is that metal detecting on historical grounds is prohibited. Home Size. Today only ruins remain. Murder Creek Bridge is located on this stretch. There were a couple of towns that were flooded during the creation of the Norris Dam in 1936. Flickr/Annie Chartrand. We can promise that you'll never look at the city of Decatur in the same way again! The crumbling house on a hill at 103 Goldthwaite Streetwas obviously once a beauty. Abandoned collapsing mines below the surface were to blame, but others suspect that the first building too closely resembled a grim medieval castle, and was scrapped for a more modern cottage design. In some cases, homes and buildings on the verge of collapse were saved. Several of the brick structures that Pratt built are still used today for an industry manufacturing cotton gins. Boshells Mill was built in 1902 beside Lost Creek on Alabama Route 124 in Townley, Ala. The spirit of a murdered woman is said to haunt a dirt road behind a Texaco station in this small community. Find . Soon, the family heard the sounds of Evelyn playing the piano down there and decided to send her body to Virginia to be buried in her familys cemetery. In the era of segregation, it was central to the cultural life of black Birmingham residents. A baby is said to have died there, either from murder, a car accident, a wagon accident from pioneer days, or variations on the theme. Nancys spirit is distraught over not being able to bury her son. Shortly after the American Civil War, Cahawba became a ghost town. (Source: Rivers Langley via Wikimedia Commons). Ive noted those of which I am aware. Connie Pearson 1. The chemical plant was built by the company in 1918 to make wood alcohol from charcoal for World War I. Youve Never Experienced Anything Like The Epic Old Railroad Bed Trail, An Abandoned Railroad Hike In Alabama, The Alabama Ghost Town Thats Perfect For An Autumn Day Trip, A Haunting Road Trip Through Alabama Ghost Towns To Take If You Dare, Most People Have Long Forgotten About This Vacant Ghost Town In Rural Alabama, This Small Alabama Town Is One Of The Creepiest Ghost Towns In America, This Abandoned Funeral Home In Alabama Will Chill You To The Bone, Nature Is Reclaiming This Deserted Alabama Resort And Its Actually Amazing, Everyone In Alabama Should See What This Abandoned Film Set Looks Like. It hasnt been used since 2000. An elevator that runs by itself. During the Civil War it was occupied by both Confederate and Union troops at different times. Another story says when people feel a sudden sense of dread, they will soon see the apparition of a soldier. A stretch of Highway 5 between Natural Bridge and Jasper is reportedly haunted by the ghost of a teenage girl who was killed while returning from prom. This is part of the warehouse complex for Dallas Compress Co. in Selma, photographed in the late 1960s. Many ghost hunters have visited the hotel. Hall Hotel dates to 1895 and residents of Gurley hope to restore it. Legends claim the captains spirit roams the cemetery, keeping watch over his children. Did you know about these Alabama ghost towns? His ghost has been sited several times by a lot of people. Decatur Mall is located in the southwest corridor of Decatur at the Beltline Road/Danville Road intersection, approximately 7 miles NW from I-65. Chalkville Training School for 'Incorrigible' Girls. Aunt Jenny Brooks Johnson, shown above, was a real mountain woman whose sons became outlaws. This photo shows a casket on a top shelf that is rusted through the bottom. All are on my list of favorites, but they are not listed in order of preference. What are the most haunted places in Alabama? The A ghost named George is said to live here, a former construction worker who fell from a scaffold as the place was being built. But at night, people have reported seeing shadowy figures wandering inside the crumbling walls, as well as strange mists and odd noises. Abandoned Western Railway of Alabama building in Montgomery is shown in the late 1960s. Don't Edit Penn's and Big Bob's have the greatest longevity and are synonymous with Decatur. But this playground is different. This haunted house is huge and horrifyingso make sure to get your tickets ASAP. Parts of the building have been renovated into living space but the penthouse, basement and old bank area remain abandoned and off-limits, awaiting restoration. Many people claim theyve seen a face behind the barred windows of the second floor but the building was empty. If. Sometimes its because they bring back memories of places they once loved. It was abandoned for years and is currently being refurbished. (Source: Historic Drish House Facebook page), This home was built by Dr. John R. Drish in 1837. William J. Samford Hall in the Auburn University Historic District. Mining towns were abandoned when the mines closed; many due to the devaluation of silver in 1893. Other times, its merely because they are so haunting and raise the questions: Who would leave such beautiful places to rot? secret traditions. Before the settlement of the original St. Stephens was abandoned, it sat atop a limestone bluff overlooking the Tombigbee River. And why? People claim to hear singing and voices in the area surrounding the property and some claim they have seen the apparition of a woman walking the grounds. Location: 30338 Lester Road, Lester, Alabama Hours: 7 to 11 p.m. Website: Click here Haunted House of Horror About: Wander around an 8,000 square-foot town filled with supernatural scares. (Source: Don and Susie via FindaGrave.com). Trespassing is illegal. The spirit of an inmate who committed suicide in the building is reported to walk its halls. Simp McGhee's It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County. The Italianate mansion was built for James Turner Kendall but decades later, the home was used as an inn. Some also like to repeat the myth that children were buried in the playground following a series of abductions in the 1960s. Get more stories delivered right to your email. This is not just a collection of ghost stories, but a true history of how the city became so haunted -- which means we also include local sites of death, unsolved murders, strange crimes, gambling parlors, vice districts and more plagued the city in days gone by. From vacant factories and industrial sites to long-shuttered schoolhouses, our list of the 10 most amazing abandoned places in Alabama has a little bit of everything. Her spirit reportedly haunts McCandless because she had told her audience she would return. Vernon/Searcy Hospital site, shown here in 1935, with photo galleries. Alabama's 12 Most Haunted Places 1. 35.2 miles from Decatur, IN This 1912 former hotel now houses the offices of a paranormal investigative team, who claim that the building is one of the most haunted in the entire state. People claim to see Marys spirit on the bridge, searching for her lost child. At one point, a caretaker claimed to have seen a coffin in one of the rooms set up as if for a wake. During the American Civil War, the town suffered a lot of damage and it was completely abandoned by the 1920s. With its troubling past of murder, manslaughter and illegal activity, it isn't that hard to believe either. Bellefonte is a ghost town in Jackson County, Alabama and is situated near the site of the Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station. It is no longer in use and the abandoned building is reportedly haunted. People claim the churchs pastor went mad one day and murdered his entire family and their spirits haunt the grounds. NOTE: Horton House burned and nothing remains. Others say they have experienced their cars rocking while on the bridge. According to legend, a small bridge on an isolated road is haunted by a baby who died there. According to Prattvilleal.gov: Pratt's "love of beauty is evidenced in Prattville in his manufactories which feature graceful arches, soaring ceilings and vast open spaces, interesting brick and stonework and a picturesque site alongside Autauga Creek. Today, the home has been beautifully restored by the City of Opelika and is the centerpiece of Spring Villa Park. Legend says the spirits of the children buried in the cemetery, founded in 1822, come there to play. We only offer a very limited number of these tours each season and it's one not to miss! Today, it is house museum that can be toured by appointment. The Alabama Center for the Arts, a 44,000 square foot arts education facility, and the Princess Theater, a historic art-deco theater built in 1919 are also nearby. Winter Place at 454 Goldthwaite Street is one of the most iconic properties in Montgomery and in the state, both because of its Second Empire-style beauty and its history, which includes acting as. One-by-one, the boys killed anyone involved in the deaths of their family. The historic rock building is said to be haunted by two ghosts: one of an older man whose spirit reportedly sets things on fire and slams doors, and one of a little boy whose laughter is heard throughout the theater. Sadly, nature has reclaimed much of Old Cahawba. There is a place in the Talladega National Forest, shown above, were a road was laid over some graves, according to legend. At right, a historical photo of City Federal. It is located across fromShelby Iron Works Park, which has been preserved as an educational site. Before that period, the canyon was used as a holding pen for Indians who were removed from their land. His wife Sarah was said to have become obsessed with planning an elaborate funeral for him and insisted on saving the candles from the funeral to be burned at her own. Condie allegedly ran, screaming, with flames streaming from her. (Picture: Hatch Plantation), Between the years 1819-1826, Cahawba was Alabama's state capital. These display caskets left inside Memorial Mound still had price tags on them. William Chancellor House in Harpersville today. (Illustration from a photo of Old Cahawba/Will Elrick), Old Cahawba Archaeological Site is the preserved remnants of the ghost town of Alabamas first capital city. For information, call 334-320-5330 or visitthe Facebook page. ", The Pickens County Courthouse in Carrollton is widely known as the site of hauntings by the spirit of Henry Wells, who was once incarcerated in a jail cell on the second floor. People report hearing maniacal screaming among other reported paranormal activity. InsideEastern Bank of Alabama in Eufaula when it was abandoned. This photo shows the Crocheron Columns, the only things remaining from a mansion built in Cahaba in 1843 by Richard Crocheron. Others have reported seeing large, panther-like cats cross the highway in this area.". Remnants of the town remain, including the courthouse, shown above, two cemeteries and the grave of an unknown War of 1812 soldier. StorageAuctions is the best place to find online storage auctions. Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion in Tuscaloosa. According to legend, people have heard the sounds of muffled explosions, screams and voices. Due to the owner's financial difficulties, the house is run-down and in need of repair. In 2015, the church burned in a fire presumed to be caused by arson. But by far the creepiest spot is the 200+-year-old Bass Cemetery in Irondale. A curved staircase inside the 1850 Carpenter Gothic-style home called Spring Villa in Opelika. It was named for nearby Sweetwater Creek. Click hereto see more photos. The once flourishing Eastern Bank of Alabama at 201 Broad Street in Eufaula, was abandoned and in bad shape when this photo was taken in 1935. The swings sometimes can be seen swinging by themselves, and the sounds of laughter Urban legend tells of a man who was hit by a car and killed while walking across this bridge. See map for precise location. On October 27, Hood arranged his army as it arrived to encircle Decatur. Today, the only thing remaining in the area is the Prairie Bluff Cemetery. The building was constructed in 1930. the inventory is constantly changing as new places come up for auction. The face appeared on the grave of Thomas second wife, Mary Jane Kittrell. It's now underwater and the only remnant left of the town is a cemetery. It was also a very thriving town. Some sources sayit opened in the 1890s as a mental hospital. Various urban legends have arisen around the claims that Cry Baby Hollow and the bridge going across it are haunted. It produced plating for Civil War-era ironclad vessels, as well as pig iron for munitions and other wartime materials. Check out the 15 most haunted places in Decatur then learn more by visiting HauntedDecatur.com. She reportedly haunts her old room on the third floor. This photo of the Alabama Capitol in Tuscaloosa was taken in the 1890s or early 1900s. It had no ballroom, no gold-leafed interior, no orchestra. Railroad tracks run alongside the backs of the surviving buildings, parallel to the dirt lane called Robinson Switch Road. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. After the capital was moved to Montgomery, the Tuscaloosa building was used as the Alabama Central Female College. Trespassing is punishable by law. Winter Place at 454 Goldthwaite Street is one of the most iconic properties in Montgomery and in the state, both because of its Second Empire-style beauty and its history, which includes acting as offices for the Confederate Army and, according to legend, being the place where F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Sayre met, setting off one of the most fiery romances of the Jazz Age. A defunct prison said to have been in operation from 1945 to 1995. Legends often say that he was hanged on trumped-up charges for deserting the Confederate army, although details vary. Ashland Place Historic District in Mobile. Legend says if someone says, We have your baby, she will attack. Get directions Red Hat Road Decatur , Alabama , 35601 USA Coordinates: 34.65420, -87.07780 Cemetery ID: 21888 Members have Contributed 3 Memorials 0% photographed 0% with gps About these numbers Photos No additional photos. But, after burning twice in its 186-year history, the elegant mansion is more famous in its ruinous state than it ever was as a family home. Visitors have claimed to have a feeling of being watched and cold chills even on the hottest days. In the 1930s, this beautiful 1842 home known as the Bethea-Strother House, located on Alabama Highway 28 in Camden, was abandoned and deteriorating. Located among the graves is an open tomb missing its corpse. Passersby often say they can see the swings moving on their own volition, as well as orbs or spectral figures. According to the Auburn University Libraries, this is the only known interior photograph of the building that served as the Dallas County Courthouse at Old Cahaba from ca. Although this hospital is now closed and operates a geriatric-psych ward, employees tell tales of "Homer" a ghost who roamsthe halls. 15 most haunted places in Decatur. In 1874, a tornado took the life of lady of the house Judith Winston, who was crushed beneath rubble. It was reportedly closed in 1924 and was later opened as a medical hospital. The historic, two-story jail was built in ca. Huggin Mollys restaurant in downtown Abbeville is named for the legend. The Jemison Center changed focusin the 1970s because of desegregation laws and closed in the 1980s. In the absence of documented fact, people are free to claim their own version of history and never is that more Reported sightings of paranormal activity at this cemetery include a fiery orb that floats through the air. Late at night, people have reported hearing eerie footsteps echoing on the decks of the War World II-era battleship USS Alabama. When he was hanged, his executioners dug a hole beneath his dangling feet to accommodate his height. Nebo Baptist Church. Many people believe the ghost is that of the Governor's son who died in the Civil War.